Hey guys welcome back to Ebbs and Flows where we talk about the highs and lows on and off the field
today joined by best player on the comp Nathan Cleary what's up bro hey bro how you going good
to be here bit of an interesting game on the weekend you guys are sort of rolling into a
three-peat what's the conversations been around with that I'm lucky enough I've been able to play
for Ivan and sort of seen the in the sanctums of Penrith but what's the conversations about you
guys coming from back-to-back champions heading into a three-peat yeah it's sort of the mentality
of I guess like one in a row rather than sort of talking too much about a three-peat obviously
it's a great opportunity and no other team's done it in the NRL era but it's all about you know
those those two years that have been have they've been you know we're grateful for the experience
we've had from it and the memories we'll have but you know it means nothing for this year it's a
whole new comp and obviously new teams playing well so we knew we had to go to another level and
that's still part of the process now is not not trying to look too far ahead to the finals or
anything like that it's it's each week each training session coming in and just trying to
improve and enjoying that process um we'll talk about process a little bit later but what do you
learn from the 2020 experience like you guys were the hot team walked in I had um Liotta and Fisher
Harris on the podcast and you said you guys got bullied yeah what was that experience like going
through that yeah it's pretty much that bro like it was it was honestly a it was a massive experience
and and learning process for us and um you know I don't it's hard to say but I don't know if we
would have won those next two comps if
if we had us scraped away and won that like I think we learned so much just about big games
and how different they are and sort of mentality you have to have um and you know Melbourne had
been there done that and yeah they taught us a lesson and um you know it's it's very valuable
one now it hurt at the time but yeah it was a lot to take out of it and yeah just the sort of
mentality around it I think um and just the yeah that's sort of we did get bullied and it was kind
of embarrassing so we didn't want to let it happen again how did you get over it I was tough man like
that year we pretty much went straight into origin as well and we didn't want to let it happen again
so I had like two days like on the pitch just trying to forget it and went straight into origin
camp lost that so it was like after that I was just like it's just a whirlwind bro like it was
it was a massive year like played really well probably played the best footy I'd played so
far in my career and then to finish it with like lost the grand final and lost the origin series
like back to back was just like it was crazy but I actually like looking back on it I enjoyed
that now like at the time it sucked but um yeah I did learn a lot out of it and I think it's
sort of shaped me as who I am today and um you know I try to watch the games back as as hard as
it was like I'd never used to really like to watch games that we lost or I didn't play well but um
yeah watch both those games back and yeah just sort of learned from that oh I can't I can't
picture anything worse than watching those games back I remember watching this thing about Kobe
Bryant and um there was a WNBA player and she'd ended up losing forgot her name but like he said
like that's one of the most important experiences you can go through when you strike me as a student
when you look at that game was there any key moments that you spotted there like if I could
only change that or was it like that or was it like the whole team experience was it preparation
throughout the week like what was the key takeaways you got from watching that back
I was a bit of everything and it's funny you mentioned Kobe because that was actually the
reason we watched it oh bullshit yeah fish is like a massive Kobe fan and he found that video
and then we're like oh like let's do it we sort of watched as a team the grand final
um but yeah I think for me it wasn't so much the the plays in the game
like looking back to that 2020 grand final I obviously had the the intercept which was
like I hate watching that back because it was just a bad moment it was a bad moment in the game and
probably cost us the game but it was just my reaction after that which I was most disappointed
with and what with was what I wanted to change the most like there's going to be moments in games
where you know things don't go right and there's going to be mistakes and you know I still think
back to that and I I knew what I saw and and wanted to do it I would still do it again today
the biggest thing is just like being able to live with those mistakes but it's what you do next
and that's probably been the biggest learning process for me is um particularly in big games
if you do you know fuck something up it's about your next process and getting back in the game
where that game was just like the next 23 minutes was honestly a blur for me I wasn't in it oh really
so you talked about your reaction from that is that from like a body language standpoint or mentally
uh I think mentally yeah I think mentally just trying to focus on what you got to do next and
do to get back in the game um you know I think the more you you've sort of focused on mistakes
you're missing what's in front of you and just trying to stay present um that's probably been
a massive thing for me over the last few years and and after that is just taking on that sort
of mantra of staying present at all times and and being in the moment no matter what happened
whether it's a good play or a bad play the next one's still it's still to come and that's the
most important thing how much did you learn something like that off a guy like James Maloney
yeah a lot bro he's the best at it like without without like talking about
it just his actions of of how he does it is like yeah it's crazy bro I've never seen someone
throw more intercepts or kick it out in the full or all that giveaway penalties and still be behind
the line talking about what he's going to do next and um yeah he's he was a good one for that he
used to have a saying I think he was like um I might make two mistakes in a row but the next
eight things I do will be good so he's just like did feel different um but I was probably the flip
side of that like I reckon I was always sort of thinking like quite negatively and not wanting
it and he was opposite so it was actually really cool to just learn off him and and see how he was
in that sort of mindset all right um that's the downside what about the upsides of success you've
sort of rolled into back-to-back Champions what'd you learn from the first competition and what had
changed from the second competition was there different lessons you learned from both those
games because obviously both pretty exciting games um what did it mean to you and what did it mean to
the area yeah it's um like so special like the first one was obviously different because it was
in the bubble we had like heaps of injuries going into that like we were just just limping in
um we lost the first semi too so remember like all the games I was like father boys are gone man yeah
everyone was like sort of Ryan itself and it sort of made it cool and we got to versus um versus
Melbourne to get in the prelim and like we were like pretty big underdogs so I was like we had
nothing to lose um won that and then gone to the grand final and um obviously saw all the support
from down here like it was it's pretty tough time down here like I don't know about living out near
the beach but yeah you're just out on the beach every day everyone here is like locked in their
homes like couldn't leave um so I think we like in that aspect in that regard we brought a lot of joy
to the area like people were looking forward to the weekends to watch us play it wasn't much else
on and um so we we felt that up there and we were lucky like we were in a bubble like we were still
able to do most things and had our family up there and then yeah it just got to got to the game and
um oh that was that was by far the probably the hardest game I've played
And by the end of it, we're literally just hanging on.
Cody Walker was carving up and just, yeah, just holding on.
And I think it was just a relief by the end of that game.
I remember being pretty nervous because it was like,
if you could lose like two green formers in a row, it's like,
where's it going to come from?
That would be hard to come back from.
And there were so many moments in that game that could have gone either way.
And, yeah, just, yeah, I was pretty grateful looking back on that
just to be able to win it.
And then, yeah, we got sent all videos of people down here
doing the street parades in their cars, going crazy.
And then you look forward to the next year and, yeah,
it was probably like complete opposite really, like all fresh, healthy,
like feeling really good down here, a lot of energy around.
Obviously, it was the Battle of the West too.
It felt nice just pumping power, nice and easy.
Yeah, it wasn't easy.
It was good fun though.
And I don't know, I just felt like that game day was like the most confident
sort of energy around the group.
I don't know if it had been because of the two years prior
or like the sort of games we'd played leading into that grand final.
But it was just like without saying it, like we just sort of had that
confident energy around us and going into the game,
it sort of just panned out like exactly how we wanted to.
Must be a good feeling.
Very good, very good.
Yeah, like compare that to the year before where everyone's just like,
oh, we just hang on.
Where like last year we sort of had the last like 20 minutes
where we knew we had it won.
It was a great feeling and yeah, just very blessed with that.
We'll look at the competition this year.
It's probably, in my opinion, one of the most exciting competitions we've had.
Obviously, you guys are the standouts,
but there's a couple of teams hanging around where you guys are
that are pretty interesting.
Do you want to, I'm not going to ask you who you think you guys will play
in the final because I anticipate you guys think you're going to win it.
But what's the team like?
What kind of threats does Brisbane sort of pose to you?
Do they remind you of you guys maybe a couple of years ago?
They've got young, talented, stacked roster.
They're back lines full of everyone.
Do they remind you of you guys?
Yeah, it's pretty similar.
They're a pretty young team and they've got a lot of X-Factor,
but they've also got a really good forward pack as well.
I think they've sort of had that, I guess, the last few years,
like just a real young team,
but they just couldn't have that consistency where sort of Adam Reynolds
has brought that in now and he's a great player,
a great general for them, sort of leads them around the park.
And then you've got guys like Reece Walsh, you know,
just complete X-Factor, a lot of speed.
You've got Cobbo, Herbie Farnworth, who's killing it as well.
And then you've got guys like Payne Hart,
and Patrick Carrigan too.
So it's pretty, yeah, it's pretty daunting.
They've got some guys, bro.
They've got some guys.
They're honestly, yeah, they're on fire at the moment.
So, yeah, I see them as a pretty tough opposition,
but I look at us versus them and I just see it as like it's exciting.
I just think it would be a mad game.
So if it works out like that, it does.
But, yeah, they're a really good team.
Now a little home club, the Walsh.
Obviously you must have great memories from being around them.
That's how I remember you.
I remember seeing you as a kid and then coming to the venue
if you'd shot up so much.
But we'll talk about your experience at the Warriors.
What was that like?
I was such a diehard Warriors fan growing up,
like just around school.
And obviously Dad was coaching there and he played there as well.
But, yeah, that was the start of rugby league for me,
like just following the Warriors and how much it meant to people over there
when they were going well.
I could only imagine what it's like over there at the moment.
It would be rocking.
It was really cool.
And I was obviously in a lucky position.
Where with Dad being involved, like I could sort of be involved as well.
I remember school holidays, like I'd go down, like hanging around training,
like goal kicking that.
And I just thought, honestly thought it was the best thing ever.
Like I'd just froth rugby league, but I'd froth the Warriors at the time too.
And just being able to be around sort of NRL players and all that,
it seemed so far away for me at the time.
But, you know, I thought it was just a good introduction.
I love storylines and anything.
I don't think there's a better storyline.
Storyline than that this year with Penrith coming up against the Warriors.
Obviously your assistant coach there.
You looked up to Sean Johnson growing up.
He was my favourite.
I think he's everyone's favourite.
I just remember him like just coming onto the scene and he was just a freak.
And I think I looked up to him mainly because he could do things that I couldn't do.
So it was sort of like that sort of awe factor that he had about him.
And I remember being at training one day, me and my little brother Jet,
and he sort of just like dabbed us up walking past.
I was like, this is rad.
Hey, he's trying to get a start.
He's trying to get a start in the starting line-up.
That's what it is.
It was like, it was just cool, bro.
And those are things that you don't forget.
And now, like, being able to verse him a couple of times, it's, yeah, it's pretty crazy.
I remember the first time I versed him, I was like 18, got a photo with him after the game.
Yeah, I remember that.
Like, bro, it was just, it's just crazy looking back.
You got a hat-trick on him too, didn't you?
He won in Golden Point that game.
So, yeah, looking back on that, like, you don't really get much time to reflect as you're going.
You sort of, like, take it as it comes, but there's sort of things like moments like this
or, like, at the end of your career, you can look back on and be, you know, pretty proud
of, but also they're just cool moments.
I think about your dad a lot.
And now I think about him in a situation where, like, he was at the Warriors, they won, the
boys went to the final, he coached him in 11, got done by Manly, potentially he could
be the coach that faces him in the grand final now.
Like, I always think of storylines like that, so.
And, like, Webby going over there doing such a good job.
Like, he was, I think he was the guy for us that was just so, I guess, underappreciated
outside of our club, like, through the media.
Like, there was a lot of talk, obviously, about Ciro, who's a great coach.
100% deserves it.
And, like, had a lot to do with all of us coming through and, you know, just absolute
But Webby was sort of, like, not talked about as much.
We were, like, Baz beforehand, like, again, did a lot for us, but he was sort of talked
about in the media and, like, spoken about a lot.
But Webby was just flying under the radar, just doing his own thing, but contributed
so much to our success.
And he's shown that now.
Like, he's got a head coaching role and people probably underestimate him a bit, but he's
gone over there and done such a good job.
To be fair, he doesn't have the roster that Bulldogs have got, too.
So, like, to take the Wiles from sort of where they were to where they are must be crazy.
What makes him so good?
I think they've just found out, like, what works for them.
You know, I think, obviously, Sean Johnson's just about in career best form.
Like, he's on fire.
But people like Toe Harris as well, through the middle.
Like, he reminds me a lot of what sort of Yohe's doing for us.
He's a great guy.
He's a great ball player and sort of distributed and takes a lot of pressure off Sean as well,
And then, yeah, they've just found a good balance in their team of what works.
They play the long game, too.
And, yeah, and their defense, too.
Like, I think that's probably the biggest thing, I think, in the past.
Yeah, never been known for that.
Yeah, well, you look at what they've seen in the past, it's always their, like, flair
and, like, X factor, where now they're sort of back in their defense and they're doing
it for long periods of time, too.
Anyone else in the roster?
Kind of scare you?
Not scare you, that's probably the wrong word, but you sort of have them look at?
Obviously, Souths can turn up when they want to.
Storm, Melbourne, and I know your dad has been, like, because Storm were always a team
growing up for us, and he talks about consistency, and you played him a couple of weeks, and
I see him in the media interview.
Is there anyone else you're sort of looking over?
Well, it's crazy.
Like, I think once you get into that finals time, like, literally anyone can win it.
You look at the same, like, the Knights at the moment, who's firing, you know, KP's
in career best form, too.
He's got a girlfriend now, too.
Maybe that's what it takes, bro.
Maybe that's what it takes.
But if you get a girlfriend.
But yeah, I don't know.
I think there's a few teams that, you know, if they could just sneak in there, like teams
like the Rabbitohs, like the Knights, Melbourne are always going to be a tough battle, particularly
They just know what it takes.
Have they lost that aura about them a little bit?
Because I see them playing now, and they're league points where they never used to league
I know you guys have got them a couple of times.
Like, have they lost that bit of aura about them?
You guys probably got it about you now.
That's probably the thing.
Yeah, I'm not too sure.
It's sort of hard to say.
I guess they've had a lot of turnover and sort of experienced players over the last
Like, Cooper, Kronk moved on.
Billy Slater retired.
Cam Smith retired.
And then guys like Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, Felice Caffusi all moved on.
So it's probably just that, I guess, that new feel in the team.
But, you know, coming up against them, you always know it's going to be a tough game.
Like, you'd never think that, like, you know, it's going to be an easy win ever against
Like, guys with Harry Grant, Cam Munster, like, you just know you've got to be on.
I still think they're a top two team, for sure.
You talked about turnover.
Have you ever watched that documentary with you, Miami?
Nah, I've never seen it.
Oh, you'd love it.
But they talk about, we don't rebuild, we reload.
And you guys have been, the price of success is everyone's trying to come for your players.
Like, there's a lot of players that have left.
And I thought, like, once Uppy goes, what a shot on the weekend.
Once Kikau goes, that left edge is fucked.
You guys just seem to bring up the next person.
Like, what does that come back to?
I think it's just the junior systems we've built.
We're obviously very blessed out here in the West with, like, you know, footy's the prime
Thousand Islanders.
And, like, I don't know.
I think it's just a trust thing as well.
I think people come in and they do the pre-season, they put in the work, and they just sort of
see what's expected and what's required to be an NRL player for Penrith.
And, you know, I think it's, we're becoming one of those clubs where, you know, you don't
just hand out jerseys for nothing.
You literally got to earn it.
You got to be a part of the club.
You got to, you know, follow our culture and buy into it.
And, you know, I think that's what helps when they make their debuts or they get the opportunity
to play a full season in first grade.
Like, they're ready and they trust that.
They've done the work and the preparation's there and, you know, we all trust them.
So, I think, yeah, it's hard losing those people like that you mentioned.
And, you know, you'd love to be able to stay together as a team forever, but it's just
It'd be crazy to see what we could have done, but, you know, it's, you just move on to the
And I think that's been a big thing for us guys, like, that have been part of it the
last few years is, like, you want these new guys coming in to feel that same success,
that same feeling.
So, it's just about recreating it and it almost gives you a sort of fresh energy, I guess,
that it is that one in a row mentality.
Not so much what we've done in the past, but what we can do.
I think about the guys that have left.
But when I think of Penrith, I think of big moments.
There's a guy in Stephen Crichton who's come up with some of the biggest for you guys.
Now, out of all the guys that have left, what's that one going to be like losing him?
I think it's going to be a weird one.
You know, he's sort of come through and been a real, I guess, general for the area, like
that real motivator for people from out here and that Mount Druitt, like him, Romy, Busy
sort of look to them three.
They've been sort of, I guess, people that...
I looked up to for people out here.
You know, it's going to be hard losing someone like him.
And yeah, you talk about big moments.
He's had so many, like not just for us, but Samara in the World Cup too.
He just seems to stand up in those big moments.
And, you know, I think people look at him and see such an athlete and, you know, he's
obviously a great player and just a freak of nature.
But he puts in just as much work as anyone I've ever met.
He's so diligent with everything he does.
I think that's saying that people wouldn't really...
Oh, see, I wouldn't...
I just thought, oh, he's a talented Islander.
Bro, you go in on like a day off, he's in there doing video, like ice baths.
He's like, yeah, one of the most diligent young guys I've ever met.
He's locked down on defense too now, isn't he?
I think that's kind of underappreciated as well.
Like he's, by I reckon, he's the best defender in the centre in the comp.
Like he's the gun and, you know, it's the work he puts in and the preparation.
And I think that's, you know, that's saying that is, yeah, it'll be hard to lose him.
But I guess, you know, give someone else the opportunity.
And who comes in?
Yeah, well, Tiny's looking good.
Like he's put on a bit of size.
He's got new tats on his face.
He's, yeah, he's in a really good space though.
Like I think, you know, obviously doing ACLs is tough and it's hard to miss a year.
But he's done a lot of work on himself.
And he'll say it like he's, when he first came into first grade, you know,
probably his mental space was a bit all over the shop.
But now, like he's done so much work on it.
And, yeah, just proud to see like how far he's come.
Because you're tight with him, aren't you?
Yeah, like obviously I'm really good mates with Tyrone and probably my best mate.
But sort of seeing Tiny come through and he's just sort of like a little brother to me now.
And I'm just trying to help him out along the way.
But, yeah, I'm proud of what he's been able to do and how he's handled this setback.
And I think when he comes back, it'll be big for him.
You talk about preparation a lot.
And I've had a lot of guys on the podcast talk about you and your diligent preparation.
Do you want to talk to us about…
It's kind of like the day in the life of Nathan Cleary.
Yeah, it sort of varies.
But, you know, I've always just sort of had the mindset that, you know,
preparation gives me confidence for the game.
I honestly believe that game day should be the funnest part of the week.
And, you know, I think early on in my career, it probably wasn't.
Like I got to game day, I was a bit like anxious, stressing.
Like I haven't done this, I haven't practiced this.
And, you know, I think, as I said before, like I think I naturally sort of think like…
mindful thinking, like particularly around footy.
So you're low-key pessimistic?
I'd say I'm quite optimistic, but not with it, like not for myself, like in a game.
Like I sort of think of what could go wrong.
So you've still got doubts on yourself even like right now?
I'm constantly fighting that.
And I think that's something I've got better at is I've sort of accepted that
there is going to be doubts there.
There's going to be days where you feel better than others.
But, yeah, you're going to have days where you're just feeling like shit.
So it's about how you deal with that, how you snap out of it.
And sort of not like…
not the mindset of, oh, how do I completely get rid of the doubts?
Like I don't want any doubts coming to mind.
Just sort of if it does come in, sort of accept it and then just flip it to
like a positive thought.
And that's always come back to my preparation.
Like I've just got a routine now where, you know, I can…
if I nail that, I get to game day and I've got no doubts.
Like things might go wrong in the game, but it's got nothing to do with my preparation.
leave myself with no excuses.
Yeah, that's cool.
What's some of the most superstitious things you've got about your preparation?
What do you want to talk about?
Yeah, no, like honestly, that's another thing.
I've sort of got rid of any like superstitions.
It's probably more so now just like routine, I guess.
So I just like to…
the two days out before the game is sort of where it starts.
I like to stretch and then Kevin's round will stretch twice.
Game day will stretch.
So it's sort of like a stretch thing.
I just feel good when I do it.
And then in terms of like video and like extras,
it sort of just depends on the week.
It's actually funny.
Me and Carter came out and had a kick with us.
Oh, my mate Dizzy.
I'm with Dizzy too.
Yeah, he come out and had a kick with him
and he actually like just gave me some gold.
like he would plan out his week like on the Sunday
of like what he'd do for extras during the week.
And that's saying that like, I don't know, when I was younger,
I could sort of just kick as much as I wanted to
and do as much out on the field, like stay out as long as I wanted to.
But now it's starting to get a bit old, man.
The body starts to tighten up a bit.
You know, you just…
you just can't do those things as much.
And he said he'd like just plan out his week,
like what sort of kicks he'd do each day.
And I've just sort of tried to do that this year.
And yeah, I think it helps a lot and sort of gives you a bit of structure
to what you're actually doing and what you want to achieve.
Like in the past, I would just stay out there for as long as I can,
just kick the ball around because I enjoy doing it.
But now it's sort of, yeah, a bit more structured.
That's funny as I'm talking to Quade about like his kicking routine
and like same thing as Dan Carter,
like their Monday to Friday is like so planned.
But he'd give me an example.
So he'd be like on a Monday, I'll be like a meter.
So he'd be like goalposts like right in front of him on the trial line.
He'll go to a meter and like try and bang it in through there.
But it wasn't about trying to hit the target.
It was all about the shape of the ball and stuff like that.
And he goes, yeah, I'll do like 15 of those max.
And then on Tuesdays, I'm trying to do the ones that I can.
I was like, it was so detailed.
I couldn't believe it.
Yeah, like it's crazy.
I think like because, yeah, I just had never thought of it in that way.
But it makes a lot of sense, you know.
And I think that's…
Another thing is just sort of being process driven too,
not so much about the result.
Where like I would have particularly with goal kicking,
I'd have sessions where I would just not leave
until I'm like kicking them the way I wanted.
And sometimes you've just got to accept that.
You're just going to have days where it's not working out
but just sort of stick into your routine and having trust in that.
What else did you learn from…
Sorry, Dan Carter for you guys here.
What else did you learn from him?
I think I saw him the day after he came out here
and I think he just hung out.
And I have Nico Hines too.
And we were at the RRPA meeting.
Everyone was scared to ask him questions, bro.
Because I grew up in New Zealand.
I'm like, fuck, this comes to me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So I'm going to go ask him.
And I asked him what the difference between Nath and Nico was.
And he said like, Nico's trying to do a lot of things right now.
He's trying to podcast.
He's trying to start charities.
He goes, Nathan just felt like he was so zoned in on a single goal
and that was a clear difference for me.
And hearing that from Dan Carter was pretty cool.
But what else did you learn from him?
Bro, honestly, like when he came in, so Darrell Halligan,
I've been like, he's been my kicking coach for a while
and he set it up and he told me he was going to come in.
And bro, I honestly felt that nervous, like just meeting him.
And then I saw him, it was like, this guy to me was obviously
growing up in New Zealand as well.
He was just like telling me that was just superhuman.
So I was like, I was like sweating, like nervous to talk to him.
But then just getting to know him, like he's just a genuine dude.
Yeah, that was the thing.
I just realized how normal he was.
He's such a good guy, man.
But he just, the way he spoke about like what he'd been able to do
and just sort of his processes, like it was just fluent.
Like he'd become so, I guess, accustomed to it
and it just become like who he was.
And I think that was saying that I just learned from just his body language
and the way he spoke was like, that's how it's got to be.
Like you just can't fake that shit.
Like you got to, it's just got to be who you are.
And it does give you confidence.
And he ended up coming and speaking to the boys after,
like we were in a meeting and he just like popped his head in.
Boys are frothing.
Yeah, for the Kiwi boys.
They were loving it.
And like, he just, like, even then it was like an impromptu,
like dad sort of just threw to him and he just like spoke so well about,
yeah, just processes and what it takes.
And yeah, it was cool.
Would you ever jump the fence?
Because I look here, here's my little breakdown of it.
I look at you, you've basically done everything in the game right now.
You could go on to win three comps, four comps, five comps.
I don't think it changes too much.
2027 there's a World Cup coming down.
2027 there's a World Cup coming down to Australia.
Wallabies looking for league talent.
Maybe if you're lifting up a World Cup in 2027 on home country.
Look at the Matildas.
What an influence they've made on this.
Is that something that excites you?
Yeah, I don't know.
Like, it does for sure.
And it's funny you mentioned the Matildas because just like what they've been able to do,
like that, like you can't do that in rugby league, you know?
Like, so I think that's the exciting part of union is it is on that sort of global stage.
And if you were to do it for Australia,
like it would be such a big thing because Australia is sort of, I don't know,
it's sort of been neglected.
Like it's neglected union for a while now and it hasn't been a massive thing.
Especially out here.
Like you wouldn't hear a thing out here.
And, you know, I think that part of it is an exciting prospect.
But for me, like, league's all I've known.
It's all I've loved.
It's a passion for me.
I couldn't see myself doing it.
But there is a little part of me that was like it would be cool to try it out.
But if I was to try it,
like I would be just my personality,
like I'd 100% have to be all in.
Like I wouldn't just be doing it just for the thought of I want to have success.
I want to, I want that sort of status of that, you know,
that global status.
Like it's, it would be like such a process thing.
And it would take a lot of hard work.
Like I would just have to, I guess,
know the game inside out before I even felt confident pulling on an Australian jersey.
I wouldn't just want it because of what I've done in league.
You wouldn't want to earn it.
for me, I still feel like there's so much more for me to do in rugby league.
What do you want to do?
It's just a journey.
Like it's, I feel like I'm honestly just getting started.
And I think that's the thing.
It's a constant battle against yourself.
Like you can have all the achievements and things along the way.
But, you know, I think, you know, within yourself,
like what you can get out of, I guess, your talent and how much you've put in.
So I think that that's it for me.
Like I still got a lot more I want to do.
They say you're quiet.
They're complete player.
Like there's no really flaws in your game.
I enjoyed attacking.
Couldn't tackle for shit.
Dad used to be heaps pumped.
Where do you see the next evolution of your game?
Because you almost said that like,
I'd regard you as the best game in the player right now.
Best player in the game right now.
But like you almost said that tippy top.
Like what's, I don't know.
What's left for you to get better?
I think like in terms of like ball playing as a halfback,
like I don't think that comes very naturally.
I mean, like it's something I've had to work on pretty hard.
And I think in that regard, like it's still a long way for me to go.
Who would you see as a pinnacle in that right now?
Like Cody Walker.
But he's some of the stuff he does with the ball is like crazy.
Like his past selections, the best by far.
You don't miss a.
Well, like defending him sometimes.
you can't be like one step off because you just know that he's going to pick
the right option.
He's kind of got that like a little delayed.
Like, you know, he goes into law.
It's delayed, but he doesn't lose any speed off.
It's like the, you know, the, the sort of cliche,
like he has so much time, right.
He, he takes it literally right to ease to be able to get hit.
But because he's doing that defense is sort of like hesitate a bit.
And yeah, I don't think I could ever get to that level.
Like I think there's a part of it where it's like,
it's just your natural ability.
I think just learning things along the way and sort of implementing them.
And I think the cool thing about like leg,
even just while I've been playing,
like it just goes through cycles of different styles.
And what's working, what's not.
And just sort of learning those and adapting.
So it's a cool process.
so how much has the game changed from when you first debuted to obviously
you guys got the system now where you cover the middle part of the third,
middle third of the field,
the boys sort of float out the back and everyone's trying to copy that system.
Everyone's trying to copy that system at the moment.
Like how much has it changed from when you first started to where you are
Yeah, it's changed a lot.
And like sort of weird thinking back to when,
when I was first playing,
because I don't know if I was even thinking about that.
Like when I was playing,
I was just sort of gone out there and the sort of team we had,
like it was like me,
Cardi and the halves got some ballers in there.
We're just throwing the ball around and,
and just hoping it would work half the time.
We didn't have much of like a structure or anything like that.
And I probably didn't even think of it.
Like I was just enjoying it at the time.
it's very sort of process driven and we know what we want to be doing and what
we were building towards.
but like from last year to this year it's changed,
like what works and I don't give it too much away,
it's always evolving because you're right.
they say saying that works and they start to do that.
Then once everyone does it,
it's like people then defend that all the time.
So they know what's going on.
I think the big part of your one is your guy's middle there that they control.
So you can go from right post,
come back to left post,
but you can play with tempo.
And even if you do drop it off to a Yowie or a fish,
they've got leg speed under,
leave them so they can generate speed and still get forward.
Like how I'm putting your foot back to you.
Like how always talk on my forward pack.
I love being able to play behind them.
I think the coolest thing about them is like they're some of the hardest workers
So like off the field,
like Fisher Moses,
like people just say him on the field,
like sort of vintage front rowers.
But they put a lot of work into their game.
I don't pass often,
but they'll pass a lot of training just trying to,
they all know their role.
Like they all do a lot of video.
They all know where they need to be when they need to be there.
And if they miss it,
they know like it's,
it makes my job so much easier.
Like I'm not just,
that's what systems are for.
I'm not out there like directing people around,
like trying to spray people on that.
They just call a play and they just fall straight into it.
makes my job a lot easier.
What percentage you'd like to play off the best?
What's your favorite look?
We'll probably get a little bit detailed here.
It's it's that sort of changes to like a lot of the time I sort of like planes
from like 50% in the middle of the field,
but there's more pressure from the inside.
you sort of know what you're looking for and,
and get a decent look from that.
But then also real like buying with the OE.
speaking of past selection,
he's brought up there,
A hundred percent.
And that's not something that come naturally to you.
cause I remember when he debuted,
he was like a sinner.
It was flat out trying to strip a two on one.
A hundred percent.
So it comes over time.
If you look back to like what he's come from,
it's been a meteoric rise for him.
very footy smart.
he's like another halfback for me out there.
Like we're constantly bouncing off each other and then connecting sort of
and dealing that too.
we've got a pretty good,
of players in our team at the moment.
It's probably no one that knows Jerome as well as you do.
Obviously he picks his battles in the media sometimes.
Like I enjoy characters in the game.
I think trash talking is a fun part of the game.
I've always enjoyed American sports.
I've always enjoyed talking a little bit of shit.
What's he like as a person behind the scenes?
But like Jerome's the most misunderstood person like ever,
in our sport anyway,
I think people see what he's like on the field,
but that's what we love about him.
The way he is on the field is,
is why he's such a good player.
And it's why people want to watch.
Like he's got a bit of that niggly in him,
but that's what he needs.
To do to get the best out of himself.
And I don't know,
obviously I can't speak cause I'm not a fan watching,
but if I was a fan,
like I'd want to see that stuff.
I'd want to see characters in the game.
in terms of the media stuff,
like I think it's just got to the point where he sort of just had enough.
Like he's not able to voice what he wants to say.
he's constantly got people,
talking shit about him in the media.
so it got to that stage where now he's like,
I'll just put stuff on my story and sort of have it go back at them.
he's just a genuine guy.
Like I was trying to get him on here,
I hope he does do one one day because I think like people will see him in a
He speaks really well.
He's actually like a naturally like born leader.
People are just attracted to him and what he does and,
and the energy he brings his energy is contagious.
And as much as he can be annoying and a smart ass,
like that's what you love about him,
I think like him and our team,
he's a massive part.
And just in terms of that energy and that infectious behavior,
he's small and infectious and people get around that.
I always think of like,
I'm entertainment and kind of need,
I want to say he's a bad guy cause I like him,
you do need characters within the game.
He's taken on that villain role.
And he enjoys it.
he's sort of taken on that mindset that,
the perceptions of the outside,
it doesn't matter to him.
It's the other people that are close to him.
Can you throw him a ride or?
any of the boys in your team can throw him a ride?
He's always in there.
You're in there too.
I definitely wouldn't fight.
Is it the Westie?
Is the Westie thing?
they're two that I would never get in the ring with.
I wouldn't even go near them.
Dill Edwards can throw him a ride.
The nicest guy in the comp.
He's got a bit of that,
a bit of moldy in him.
I wouldn't go near.
so I look at fullbacks and there's so many different ways to play fullback now.
And like you look at,
we've talked about passing a lot and that was kind of always the critique of Dylan Edwards.
But when you've got RP,
Jerome that can pass at an elite level,
he's kind of not needed to do that.
his job is basically just to carry up the yards.
But the evolution of his game has come along so much like further,
And it's saying that again,
like he's worked so hard at,
passing probably wasn't his strength and put a lot of,
time and effort into it.
But I think that the biggest thing for us was,
I guess adapting to him.
Like we didn't need to be a team that,
never on the outside,
getting a three on two.
like we were probably trying to do that at the start,
like early on 2019.
it just wasn't really working for,
we had to adapt to what his strengths were.
I think we've done that pretty well.
And I think it's just,
sometimes you gotta,
you gotta realize that you don't have to follow like the best teams and
what they're doing.
You can have your own sort of style.
Cause I look at someone like Latrell and like he influences the game in
different ways and sometimes good and sometimes bad.
he's not a guy that punches out all the meters.
KP is not a guy that always punches out the meters.
So there's so many different ways to play that one now,
I think we're in a blessed,
blessed sort of era where there's so many good fullbacks and sort of
Like Teddy wasn't there.
Like I feel like he would have played a few games for the blues now and
I think it'd go really well.
everyone's got their different style and you know,
of course you want to be the complete player,
you're never going to be perfect.
There's always going to be flaws in the game.
You can always just push the past one wide array instead of stripping the
just air block ladies at the back.
A hundred percent.
And then he'll push out.
He never misses a line break.
He's always there.
You see him sometimes he's like out in his feet and he'll just run 80
meters in school.
A long distance try.
I said to him the other day,
when I first came into first grade,
I was scoring like support tries all the time.
And since these day,
but he's thanks me.
now anytime I make a break,
I just see him go,
What's the key to good support player?
I think it's sort of just like reading the game.
Like I think you see a lot of them,
like if the ball goes to the left,
like people will just be trailing down the,
I think you just know some plays or,
or I guess judgment of the rock and sort of rock speed and sort of know
what's going to work majority of the time.
And I think sometimes you can sort of just hedge your bets.
Even if it doesn't work,
you just get back on the play.
And you're at your system there anyway.
A hundred percent.
I actually is about that.
Cause Ches is fucking one of the elite.
but you just got to keep your feet moving.
Like once you pass,
Cause once you stop and they take off,
it's like you got mud in your boots.
You're not catching it back up.
That's actually a good way to put it.
Like if you're just sort of following the play all the time,
you put yourself in the right position.
Your dad gave me some really good advice when I was younger.
And he said like,
do you know what cricket is?
I'm walking in with the bowler.
He always talks about it.
did you still say that?
I might need to mix it up.
but that really helped me out.
Like in my young days and had John Acklin,
he was one of my favorite coaches.
Cause he used to explain things in such a simple way.
Like he'd be like,
I've never seen a bomb go too high.
never met a player who was too fit.
like he was such a good coach.
I actually played with his son,
So I obviously knew him well,
but I never got coached by him.
So it's interesting to hear that.
And he used to always be like,
like get your name in the paper,
like score shots.
He had all these little catchphrases that really helped out.
like so fond of him.
I think about him a lot,
even transferring into business.
Some of the lessons he taught me.
And I want to say like,
he's a father figure cause I had a great dad,
but he showed me love when I was down.
He gave me my debut.
He brought me back from England.
He kicked me out of the game.
I had the ass a few times too.
What's it like to be coached by your dad?
I know you get this question a lot,
but it must be weird.
Like at the start,
it was definitely weird.
we both thought that we were ready for it,
but then when it was actually happening,
it's just a weird dynamic.
And then obviously that 2009 year,
we started the year like two and nine,
And we were just getting roasted through like the media.
And he obviously had the,
where he left from,
the Tigers that was a bit ugly.
it was hard times.
Like he'll even say like,
he was thinking of giving it up then just because of,
it just sort of felt like it was a failure.
But from that moment to now,
like we could have never,
Now I've got these memories for life,
but like now again,
it just feels natural.
I feel like when he's at training,
he just feels like the coach and yeah,
outside of it is dad.
But I think the coolest thing is like,
we obviously have great trust with one another and you know,
obviously I'm in a position where I'm lucky enough to be the captain.
So I can relay stuff to him that you probably wouldn't hear otherwise.
Not putting anyone in like bad positions,
but just talking about like what the feel is amongst the boys and what we
might need to be doing.
I have no problem like going to him and sort of saying,
I think we can do this better or less of this,
And I think that's a cool relationship to have.
Have you ever had a blow up?
You're both pretty like.
I wouldn't say a blow up.
Like sometimes we have different views and I think that's been the cool thing.
Like I think our relationship has sort of developed as it's going on where like,
we can just say things that we're thinking.
And if we don't agree,
I've given you that.
I've got that plenty of times.
It's a lot of time.
It's worse when he doesn't say anything.
it's become a cool,
a cool dynamic character.
I remember one time I walked out of video and Nartu Plum goes,
videos are too long.
so I sort of want to expand on this conversation a little bit.
Like your career was just starting to take off.
His was like in a little bit of a,
like turmoil with getting let go of Penrith.
What was that dynamic like at home?
Cause I obviously as a father,
I'm so proud of Nath.
But then on a personal level,
as someone who I know wants to succeed,
it must have been like a weird little timeframe,
if I'm being honest at the time,
I remember him coming home and saying that he'd been like sacked from Penrith.
And at the time I was so off Penrith,
I think that year there was a lot of injuries.
Like the year before when,
that was my last year.
The year before went to the,
like against all odds.
that year just didn't pan out.
I was sort of off it.
could you have left?
but I never really like looked into that.
you just see your dad and you just want him like the best for him.
I'd always looked up to him.
He's always been a role model for me and sort of say him down.
Like he didn't really understand at the time either.
but to his credit,
he's been my number one supporter through it all.
He even said to me,
I want you to stay at Penrith.
and it was a good opportunity for me to just carve out my own path.
we look back on it now and it was,
it's almost been the best thing that happened because that makes sense.
If he had stayed like,
he's only in cause his dad's the cage.
It might've been those conversations.
I don't think like,
there's no way he would have debuted me the same time that Anthony Griffin did.
It would have been,
he even says it like we were talking about it and we were saying like,
I just signed a new contract and it sort of,
the contract was laid out for me to debut when I was like 21 and we were like,
that's a good year for you to try and get in.
and you just rock up and David ended up working out David when I was like 18.
I think the position was like,
I don't think dad would have ever done that.
So the way it all worked out,
it just ended up,
it ended up being perfect.
he had a year off and I think that was good for him too.
And they just sort of clear his head.
he even says it now,
a lot of things with his coaching philosophy have come from that year off.
He just had time to sort of sit down and look back on himself and what he wanted to be.
I think it's made him a better coach.
he's always been my number one sport even through that period,
he was coming to games with the hoodie on drinking in the stands.
And I think he sort of enjoyed that too.
Like just being able to be a fan.
did you try and kick him out of the main bedroom when,
when you're the main breadwinner?
I've given him the bunk beds of duty mate.
And then obviously we had one year where he was coaching the Tigers and I was at
Panthers and we're still living together.
like mum talks about it,
She didn't know who to go for and would be sitting at the dinner table the night
It was just like a weird set up.
But just trying to food poison you.
Beat him twice though,
Hold that over him.
West Tigers jagged a couple of wins over you when you come back too,
that sort of like he was fully invested in that Tigers job.
he was loving it.
so I think that's sort of saying that sort of misunderstood to the way that
I think even he says like he would have rather it handled a different way.
And I think he has sort of regrets over that.
but I think what was offered to him was this.
He had passed that up then.
Like we might have never been out of being,
father and son coach and player.
Wonder if they do like a little 30 for 30 talk.
you guys have done a little bit later.
it would be cool.
It would be cool.
But the question,
what do you reckon would have happened if he stayed at the warriors?
If he'd say the warriors.
I had dreams of playing for the warriors growing up.
So do you reckon you would have developed the same cause you would have rolled
into like an Auckland system over here.
It's a little bit different.
with all due respect,
if I didn't move to Australia,
moving to Australia was the best thing that happened to me in terms of
it's obviously a lot of union pathways and,
the league pathways at the time weren't there like they were here.
When I first moved over here,
I was amazed at sort of what was on offer and,
and the development you could have.
like I enjoyed playing footy,
but I didn't even see myself as like the potential to be an NRL player.
I just didn't really see the path.
And then when I moved over here,
it was just like,
it's just like all laid out.
What was the moment for you?
Cause I remember the first time I watched you play,
you played an HD ball game.
You actually got in trouble from Ivan after him.
That's how I remember it.
Are you gonna start talking?
Cause I was sitting there,
I was like holy shit.
I'm just trying to get picked on my own.
So I'm not jumping into this,
but what was sort of the moment you realized like,
cause it looks obvious now,
but obviously there's a lot of hard work in there.
Hanging on first graders,
your dad's like a coach.
And I look at a lot of players who their dads are the coach.
They're not Nathan Clary.
Like what was the moment for you that you're like,
this might be me.
I don't know if it was ever a moment.
I grew up like rugby league has just been a part of my life.
It's always been a passion for me.
I've always loved it.
Even I was playing soccer till I was like 12,
but I always loved watching rugby league.
I would watch every game every weekend.
Do you think that's why you can strike the ball
a little bit better?
I think it definitely helps.
I think it definitely helps.
and then as I said,
like I was just a massive Warriors fan,
but then I think when I moved over to Australia
and sort of saw like what was laid out,
I could sort of see the path and I was like,
this is really what I want to be.
where in New Zealand,
it probably just felt like a long lost dream
where here it was like,
I can sort of make this a reality.
And then you go through the grades and,
I was just taking it one step at a time and pretty cliche,
but I was just enjoying it.
And I never really,
I still never really thought like,
I still thought it was far away.
I think that sort of junior kangaroos game.
That was sort of the year.
and then I ended up debut in that year,
but the start of that year,
like I started to play pretty well.
And then next thing I know,
I played the junior kangaroos game.
Not long after that,
I played a game of cup.
It was like two games.
And then you're sure.
And then I just honestly happened so quick.
Like I could have never dreamed of that year that I'd be
playing first grade.
I want to be playing consistent under twenties and maybe make
junior kangaroos.
If you make up a few matches in that.
That's the dream.
I think I can crack it as an arrow player,
but somewhere down the track and then yeah,
it just was a whirlwind.
I talked about selling another post podcast the other day.
And they asked like the difference,
like when I remember we're done on the post session against
you and we're like carp and you guys were still like young
and I remember like I was a half and you were the half on
the other side and we were just doing an arm wrestle,
like a 20 minute sort of thing.
I just remember the ball just go like,
I was getting rattled in the post session cause I was just
getting out played,
Getting out kicks.
you're kicking game.
It's evolved over time.
The way that you strike it,
never seen anything like it.
You saw sort of Cooper Crump sort of do a breakdown
and how he used to do a floater back in the day.
And he used to shape it up on the side.
You hit it front on.
It's just saying that worked for me.
I always thought like,
like I practiced it a lot.
Like I was doing it for ages before I even did it in a
it just sort of worked.
And I always thought if I held it flat,
I sort of worked out that if I didn't hit it exactly how
it's sort of torpedo anyway.
So it's sort of like less room for error.
Whereas the ones on the side,
if you hit them in the middle,
it's way sweeter,
but if you sort of miss hit it,
then it's terrible.
I just sort of worked at it and,
it just sort of worked for me.
So you can just land it on a spot though.
I wouldn't say that,
I think it just comes with like practice and sort of
knowing like what positions in the field to do it,
what rocks paid to do it off.
just sort of gone off that.
Did you learn much off Sally?
Cause like I wasn't a natural kicker,
but when he taught me a few different keys,
cause I didn't have a big kick.
So I kind of had to try and kick through the line.
but he used to do some small things like bro,
start tight at the right,
get the ball in your hands as quick as possible.
Use a defender there.
So that marker has to go like,
it's kind of zigzag.
Like that really small stuff really helped my kicking.
you just pick one spot fullbacks there,
just hook it back.
Did he help you out or did you just naturally?
sort of pointers along the way,
but probably more when I was like in under 20,
he's coming through where like,
I didn't play one NRL game with him.
I think probably Peter Wallace was more of a,
of a help for me.
I have so much respect for him.
he's one of like the goats in my eyes,
just of sort of like how tough he was,
like how much respect he had from the team.
just his willingness to help young guys too.
I think at that time it was still sort of transitioning
from that phase where like the older guys,
it's sort of like a hazing process,
like coming through as a young guy,
but he was always like there to help me.
gave me the biggest sprays I've copped,
but I needed it at that time.
And he sort of just like pushed me into it and yeah,
helped me with little things like that.
cause it's such a difference coming through like under 20s,
sort of even up to first grade,
just sort of the pressure you get,
particularly while kicking.
he's always helped me with that.
Cause you've got a target on your head,
a hundred percent.
did you ever look?
I never really thought about AFL.
I played AFL for fun.
Like it was just,
it was just fun playing with the boys,
sort of mucking around.
I enjoy watching it and respect it.
And I just think it's a sort of different type of athlete.
Like I can't jump for shit.
I can barely get off the ground.
But I don't know.
I've never really been a,
I had Saucy in the podcast,
that kicking performance you put against him,
Is that when like,
it's not personal.
he's an old teammate,
but is that one of your favorite kicking performances
you put together?
if you get Saucy rattled early.
It was pretty funny.
Like I just knew Saucy well,
and I knew if I could get one decent one,
then I could keep going at him.
when I was practicing kicking.
You've done his knee bro.
When I was practicing kicking,
I was sort of always kicking him at training.
Your leadership style,
how has it developed over the past couple of years?
And what's it like right now?
Are you the type of person,
it's hard cause you guys are so successful,
but you got standards,
you got values within your team.
How do you deliver those messages now?
I think that's one thing that is probably,
that's actually probably the biggest thing
that I'm still trying to,
has been a leader.
I still think it's sort of a new thing to me.
And it's definitely something that doesn't come naturally.
Like I'm sort of naturally a quiet,
And I sort of still want to be like that.
I want to be myself in my leadership process
I don't want to try and be something that I'm not.
I think that's why,
like me and Yoi have got a pretty good,
dynamic of how we do things.
I think it just works well.
Like we feed off each other well.
And I've never been someone that's a big,
on the field or even off it.
And I think the hardest thing for me has always been,
keeping people accountable.
it sort of feels awkward for me,
having those sort of tough conversations sometimes.
we're very lucky with our group.
Like everyone's so diligent and just sort of bought in.
And I've never really had to have those conversations.
So it'd be interesting to see like how it would,
like if things weren't going the way we wanted to,
or people were falling out of line.
I think my sort of leadership process is I just like,
I just want people to sort of follow me and,
I don't want to speak all the time,
but when I do speak,
I just want people to listen.
And I guess that's something you just build over time and just
sort of earn people's respect.
I think that's the biggest thing about being a leader.
you gotta have people's respect.
And the only way to do that is just to earn it.
I watch you play and like,
like I've said this plenty of times on podcasts,
but like I've used to say to me,
he's asked me like,
what does a halfback do?
I've never really had the answer.
he makes the game easier for those around him.
And the way you do that,
you earn respect from him and you build your game off basically
the way you play right now.
And at the time I couldn't see it cause there wasn't like a
clear example of that.
is that how you see halfback position should be played?
I think it should always be about trying to make the other
people around you look better as well.
You should just make their job easier.
And that's saying,
I definitely try and go into every game with,
I just want people to feel relaxed.
I want them to just focus on what they need to do and I
can take care of all this stuff in between it.
And I think like one of the coolest things about being a halfback
is you can generally like make someone like look really good
and like they can feel that and they feel that sort of confidence.
I think that's a cool thing.
and then you'd sort of build combinations with them,
I think that's cool.
Like an important thing too,
like understand your players and like you might have your own style,
but you gotta work with them too.
and what they want to do.
And cause if they're doing something they don't want to do,
they're not going to do it as well.
So I sort of find that right balance.
and one thing that dad always taught me was defense too.
that's how I've always tried to gain my respect.
Do you enjoy tackling?
I don't know if I enjoy it like a trainer than that,
that's another thing.
you got to do it at train just to be better.
I think it's something that's like,
dad's always instilled that in me.
Like defense has been the most important thing.
And actually my debut against,
Melbourne Cooper Cronk after the game,
the only thing he said was just remember defense is the most important thing.
That stuck with me like since then.
And it just sort of like relayed that message that dad had been instilling in me
from a young age.
Didn't Bromwich try and stitch you up early?
so I did the first kick of the game,
like sort of just try and get into it.
It was running down there and Jesse Bromwich sort of just bumped me.
we're coming at your game,
That's the last thing you want to hear,
so Nathan Cleary,
like I see players as businesses right now and I was someone who's been able to
transition outside of sports.
You're involved with a couple of different businesses.
How did this sort of stuff come about?
Cause I'm actually genuinely interested.
This is like my favorite part of sports.
The immersion of the two.
drink West was just a good opportunity sort of offered to me by Jake Farragher.
I was like saying that I'd been thinking about for,
for a little period of time,
obviously listening to you and then how well you've done and sort of talking
about how players should,
make the most of their time in the sport saying that I'd been thinking about,
but it was just sort of getting in there and then,
he just called me in for a meeting one day and sort of,
offered me part of the business.
And it was with Ty and Tyson who,
got to know them pretty well.
And it's been cool.
I'm a complete noob with business.
Like I just had no idea.
So just being able to sit in on meetings and,
and see how much actually goes into it.
I was always sort of of the impression too,
I didn't want to have my fingers in too many pies.
like footy is my passion.
I wanted to give everything I had to footy and get the most out of that.
And then I guess sort of deals that come from that as a by-product and maybe a
later down the line,
but being able to just learn this on the run and,
we're definitely looking to more in the future.
What about like your Adidas deals and stuff like that?
Like obviously you don't have to talk numbers,
and I know a lot of players are sponsored by them and you'd be one of the
bigger ones doing all the campaigns,
but what sort of,
what's it like being like an Adidas athlete?
Cause it's pretty sick,
it's pretty crazy.
just when you say like that,
I don't really think of it like that at the moment.
I'm just obviously very grateful to be a part of it,
but when you grow up and you say like Nike athletes or Adidas athletes,
that's pretty crazy.
just to be able to get free boots is like mad and just be a part of the
it's pretty buzzy.
and I'm very grateful for Adidas have been part of the journey for a long
do you have conversations with them and sort of like building known apparel
lines or anything,
or is that just not your thing?
not really like that.
I think that's just too big of a brand to,
like global brand to think about that stuff.
And at the moment,
with what I've got.
there might be something down the line for that.
even at the start of my career,
like I was probably getting offering these offered sort of sponsorship
And I was just saying yes to everything,
but then you end up with all these commitments and,
and promos and stuff like that.
And I was just like getting overwhelmed and it was affecting my footy.
So sort of like really stripped it back and pretty much,
with like channel nine added us and drink worse now.
So pretty exciting though,
they're things that I'm,
happy with and they align with,
with what I want to do.
what do you want your legacy to be bro?
And that's probably a deep question.
You're 25 years old right now,
potentially on the path to immortality.
What do you want your legacy to be?
it's hard question.
Like I asked myself this a lot.
I fight with myself that do I even want to think about my legacy?
would I rather just focus on what's here and now?
I guess a byproduct of,
But I think I let my legacy,
I just want to be,
I just want to be remembered as particularly by the people I play with as
someone that's respected.
I think my legacy in the game,
I think growing up,
it's scary to say like the best player in the game,
that's how I feel at the moment.
Like I go into the,
go into a game and I'll kind of want to be the best player on the field every
Cause I think that helps our team.
I've sort of always had that sort of team mindset too.
And I think that's always been instilled in me is like,
I want to get the best out of our team.
I don't really think too much about what I want individually as my legacy,
I think if you look at our team,
like I think we could be the best team in the NRL era ever.
that'd be a cool legacy man.
I know you're big into American sports and what's,
what's your favorite sports from there?
Obviously NFL is a big one,
Who do you support?
I've sport Philly.
Madden back in the day.
Michael Vick was my favorite player.
He was playing for Philly at the time.
that's just how it worked out.
I think that's a bit harder to follow,
like for teams because there's such a turnover in players.
There's only five on the,
on the quarter each time.
But do you enjoy the high turnover in players?
Cause I look at the NBA off season,
I find that almost as exciting as the season.
And I think NRL is like that too.
but I think NBA is probably more one way,
Unless you're over there and like,
you've got a genuine connection.
it's probably been more so following players,
but sort of have that soft spot.
what sort of lessons you learned from like watching,
like being a professional athlete here down under,
what sort of lessons you learned from watching them also from also from a
marketing standpoint,
but also the professional preparation standpoint in the videos,
anything that really stands out to you?
I think it's just,
it's a different world.
I think they really embrace like characters over there and,
and being different where,
it's not really like that.
Not that I would be like that different anyway,
but I think for other players in the game,
I think it would be cool.
I look at people like Jerome and,
even like brand Smith money and that,
I think they could be,
they could be anything and they could be really entertaining,
but I think it's always sort of stripped back a bit.
We're over there.
They really embrace it.
They embrace if you're,
like making as much money as you can.
it's a different world.
And in terms of that,
it's probably easier for them to market themselves because they can be who they
They can be themselves.
Here's a good question for you.
Like Tom Brady used to take a little bit less so he could play with some guys
you were fucking $2 million a season and I'm sure someone would pay that for
But is that sort of something you look at?
you strike me as a team first guy.
I think you can get your money no matter what.
Is that something you look at?
Like when you hear Tom Brady do that,
no wonder he had so much success.
you can take as much money as you want,
but if you go to a team that,
the roster doesn't suit you,
it's probably what,
And you probably got the best example cause all the guys,
I'm not saying everyone,
but like a lot of the guys that have left Penrith and they've taken money to go
they're not playing like they were at Penrith.
You see a guy like a Zaki Hoskin come through and just like absolutely kill
it's pretty good example.
It's a good example to look at,
I've like money has never been a driving factor for me.
it's always been sort of,
wanting the best out of myself and getting the best out of myself,
but also getting the best of the people,
getting the best out of the people around me.
And you're right.
Like team has always been the biggest thing for me.
of course money's nice and,
it's not a driving factor for me.
Like I would much rather stay here for less than go,
somewhere else to get max money.
if you do well enough in your time playing,
money can come later down the track.
I just want to say thank you for your time and jumping on.
wish you all the best for the three feet.
Pretty exciting times for you.
my favorite thing about you,
you're still the same dude.
So as successful as you are,
Thanks for jumping on.